Galvanizing apparatus



June 10, 1941. R. E. AUNGST GALVANIZING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 6Sheets-Sheet 2 June 10, 1941. R. E. AUNGST I GALVANIZING APPARATUS 6Sheets-Sheet 3 111,0 2 lull/gs Filed March 9, 1940 June 10, 1941.

R. & AUNGST gGALVAl II ZING APBARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 June 10, 1941.

R. E. AUNGST GALVANIZING APPARATUS s Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Marqh 9, 1940June 10, 1941. R. E. AUNGST GALVANIZING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 ve Sheets-Sheet 6 c u In @49 Patented June 10, 1941 Ralph E.

Reeves Aungst, Avondale, Ohio, asslgnor to Steel and ManufacturingCompany,

Dover, Qhio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 9, 1940, Serial No.323,110 14 Claims. (oi. 91-125) The invention relates to machines forcoating pails, buckets and other pre-fabricated articles with zink, tinor other coating material.

It is known that machines have been constructed and are beingsatisfactorily operated for galvanizing pails, buckets and otherpre-fabricated articles.

The present invention, therefore, contemplates certain improvements inthe construction and operation of machines for galvanizing or otherwisecoating pails and similar articles, and has for its objects theprovision of a machine which will be simple and inexpensive inconstruction, and which will occupy a minimum amount of floor space andwhich will quickly, eificiently and uniformly coat the pails or otherarticles with spelter or other coating metal.

An object of the invention is to provide a galvanizing machine in whicha rotating annulus is associated with the tank or not containing themolten coating metal, said annulus carrying a plurality of radiallydisposed arms which support the pails or other articles to be coated,means being provided for axially rotatingthe arms at predeterminedpoints so as to move each pail through a number oi predeterminedpositions in order to properly coat the pail with metal and drain thesurplus coating metal therefrom.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the rotatingannulus dips slightly below the surface of the coating metal at a pointintermediate the ends of the tank or pot, a flux box being provided atone end portion of the tank so that the flux floats upon the moltenmetal, friction means being provided for engaging the sides of therotating annulus so as to prevent the flux from passing to the other endportion of the tank.

A further object is to provide a novel means for supporting the pails orother articles to be coated.

A still further object of the improvement is to provide an improvedscraper or skimmer for removing scale, oxide and other matter from thesurface of the molten coating metal just prior to the time each ailemerges therefrom.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description or which may be later referred to maybe attained by constructing the improved galvanizing machine in themanner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of the improved galvanizing machine, parts being brokenin section for the purpose of illustration;

,line 't-l, Fig. 5;

Fig. 2, a top plan view of the machine with the rotating annulusremoved, parts of the mechanism being shown in section:

Fig. 3, a detail sectional view through the improved scraper or skimmermechanism taken as on the line $-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a detail section of a part of the scraper or skimmer mechanismtaken as on the line 6-6, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the rotating annuluswith one of the radial arms supporting a pail in the position it assumesas it leaves the flux box and. enters the coating metal, the radial armat this point being operated by one of the cam means and the axis ofsaid radial arm being approximately on the line 5-5 shown in Figure 1:

Fig. 6, a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line M, Fig.5;

Fig. '7, a detail sectional view taken as on the Fig. 8, a section takenas on the line 88, Fig. 1;

Fig. 9, a section taken as on. the line, 9@, Fig. 1;

Fig. 10, a side elevation of a modified form of the improved galvanizingmachine with parts broken in section for thepurpose of illustration;

Fig. 11, a plan view of the form of the machine shown in Fig. 10 withthe rotating annulus removed and parts broken in section;

Fig. 12, a detail sectional view of the scraper or skimmer mechanismtaken as on the line l2--l2, Fig. 11;

Fig. 13, a fragmentary sectional view of the scraper mechanism taken ason the line lt-It, Fig. 11;

Fig. 14, a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing the reverseside of the rotating annulus from that shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 15, a fragmentary detail plan oi a portion of the rotating annuluswith one radial arm showing a pail carried thereby; and

Fig. 16, a section taken as on the line l6-l6, Fig. 15.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts I throughout the several views.

the top of the molten coating metal at this point, the level of the fiuxbeing indicated by the broken line F in Figure 1.

A rotatable wheel or annulus indicated generally at 22 is located aboveand extends into the metal pot to a point slightly below the surface ofthe molten metal and through the slot 23 at the inner end of the fiuxbox.

The annulus or rim 22 of the wheel may be connected by spokes 24 with acentral hub 25 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 26 which may bestationary and supported at its ends by the upright brackets orpedestals 21 mounted upon opposite side walls of the tank or pct 28.

For the purpose of supporting pails, buckets or other ware to be coated,a plurality of preferably radially disposed arms indicated generally at21 are carried by the wheel or annulus 22 each arm terminating at itsouter end in the angled end portion 28 which may be located atsubstantially a right angle to the body portion of the arm 21.

For the purpose of accommodating pails or other articles of varyingsizes the angular end 28 of each arm may be adjustable in length byproviding a separate outer end portion 28a adapted to be detachablyconnected to the portion 28 as by a sleeve 29 and pins 30.

The detachable portions 28a may be made in varying lengths toaccommodate the articles of different sizes.

Cradles are formed upon the angular portion of each arm by welding orotherwise fixing thereon a spaced pair of arcuate fingers 3| upon theends of which the side of the pail or other article as indicated at 32may rest as illustrated throughout the drawings, and as best shown inFigs. and 6.

For preventing any considerable endwise movement of the pail or otherarticle upon the cradle supports, a stop finger 33 may be formed at theend of the angled portion of each arm 21 in position to substantiallycontact the bottom end of the pail or the like as shown quite clearly inFig. 6.

Each radial arm 21 is longitudinally slidably mounted within a sleeve 34rotatably mounted within a radial bore 35 in the annulus 22, the arm 21being held against rotation relative to the sleeve by means of the pin36 in the arm slidable within the slot 31 in the sleeve which permitslongitudinal movement of the arm relative to the sleeve.

Each of the sleeves 34 preferably extends outward beyond the peripheryof the annulus as shown in the drawings and has a collar or shoulder 38fixed or formed thereon at a point spaced from its outer end for contactwith the periphery of the annulus to prevent inward movement of thesleeve.

A finger 39 is fixed or formed upon the outer end of each sleeve 34extending in the same general direction as the corresponding angledportion 28 of the radial arm 21 and being preferably slightly inclinedtoward the same and terminating in the outturned rounded end 40 as bestshown in Fig. 6, for the purpose of cooperating with the cradle arms 3|to prevent displacement of the pail or other article carried thereby asthe annulus is rotated.

A lever arm 4| is fixed to the inner end of each sleeve 34 forming ashoulder 42 at this end of the sleeve butting against the inner side ofthe annulus 22 and cooperating with the shoulder 38 to preventlongitudinal movement of the sleeve 34 relative to the annulus while atthe same time permitting rotation of the sleeve within the annulus.

A spring 43 is positioned around the inner end of the sleeve between thearm 4| and the annulus, one end of the spring being engaged around thestop pin 44 on the corresponding lever arm 4|, as indicated at 45, theother end of the spring being hooked and engaged over the oppositesideof the annulus as shown at 46, the spring acting to normally hold theradial arm 21 and pail 32 in the position shown in Fig. 8. the stop pin44 contacting the side of the annulus 22 as shown in said figure.

A cam 41 is fixed upon the stationary shaft 26 as by the key 48 and maycontact the inner ends of the radial arms 21, or preferably, the roundedends 49 of the sleeves 50 which are adjustabiy mounted upon the innerends of the arms 21 as by the set screws 5|.

A coil spring 52 is located around each radial arm 21 between theshouldered lever arm 4| and the collar 53 which may be fastened upon thearm 21 as by a pin 54.

The annulus may be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.l, by means of a drive chain 55 leading from any suitable source ofpower and located over the sprocket wheel 56 upon the hub portion of theannulus.

In order to confine the flux to the flux box and prevent it from passingover the surface of the molten metal at the opposite end of the tank orpot, a pair of L-shaped plates 51 is provided for frictional contactwith opposite sides of the rotating annulus 22 for cooperating with therotating annulus to effectively close the slot 8 23 in the inner endwall of the flux box.

These L-shaped plates may be mounted upon the extension 58 of one sidewall of the flux box and the bracket 59 by means of pins or rods 68fixed to the L-shaped plates 51 and slidably mounted within the tubularguides 6| carried by the extension 58 and bracket 59, coil springs 62being located around said tubular guides and interposed between theL-shaped plates 51 and their supporting structures.

The angular ends 63 of the L-shaped plates are pressed tightly againstthe inner end wall of the fiux box at each side of the slot 23 by meansof bolts 64 carried by the end wall of the flux .box and located throughslots 65 in the angular ends 63, springs 66 being inter- 'D0sed betweenthe heads of the bolts and the angular ends of the L-shaped plates tohold the same tightly against the inner end wall of the flux box whileat the same time permitting the springs 6| to hold the main portions ofthe L- shaped plates 51 tightly pressed against the opposite sides ofthe rotating annulus from a point above the flux level to a point belowthe level of the molten metal.

Thus, the flux is prevented from passing through the slot 23 and alongthe sides of the rotating annulus to the other end of the tank or pot.

A slightly inclined stop or cam 61 is supported upon the flux box orother stationary portion of the machine in the path ofthe roller 68 uponthe end of the arm 4| in position to be engaged by said roller as thepail or other article to be coated is leaving the flux box and enteringthe molten metal.

A cam plate 69 is supported upon the flux box extension 58 or otherstationary portion of the machine in the path of the roller 8|, inposition to be engaged by the roller as the pail is about to emerge'fromthe molten metal.

At the forward end of thecam plate 69 is a slightly inclined edge 10leading to a recess H, the working edge of the cam then beingsubstantially flat as at I2 terminating in the inclined edge ll.

For the purpose of removing scale, oxide, and other matter which usuallyfloats upon the surface of the molten zink or other coating metal inorder that none of this matter is deposited upon the surfaces of thepails or other articles as they emerge from; the coating metal amechanism is included in the machine for scraping this scale and othermatter from the surface of the molten metal at the point where the pailsemerge therefrom.

This scraping and skimming mechanism is arranged to be operatedcontinuously during the rotation of the annulus 22 and for this purposea chain or other flexible endless member, as indicated at M, may belocated around a sprocket wheel l5 fixed upon the hub of the annulus andaround a sprocket wheel 16 upon the drive shaft ll of the scrapermechanism, said shaft being journaled in abearing 18 supported upon theextension 58 or other stationary portion of the machine.

A beveled pinion I9 may be fixed upon the shaft 7'! and meshes with abevel pinion 80 upon the vertical shaft 8i journaled in a bearing 82mounted upon said extension 58.

A hub 83 is fixed upon the lower end of the shaft ti and provided. witha pair of diametrically opposed tubular arms 84 upon each of which ishingedly mounted a scraper blade 85 provided with spring means 86 fornormally holding the blade in vertical position. I

Two concentric arcuate guide rails M are supported within the tankslightly above the level of the molten metal, as by the radial bars 88and tangential bars 89 connected to the top of the tank and are locatedin the path of the scraper blades t5, the blades being rotated in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 and the forward ends of the railsti being tapered as at 9@ so as to cause each scraper blade to be swungto a inclined position upon its axis as it moves over the guide rails,the oxide, scale, and other foreign matter being wiped from the bladesas they pass over the radial bars $8, each blade dipping down below thesurface of the metal to scrape the foreign matter therefrom, as itridesofi of the curved guide rails.

In the operation of the machine as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9,inclusive, the annulus 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 1.

As each radial arm reaches the position shown at A in said figure thesleeve 59 thereon rides onto the high point or the cam 51 compressingthe spring 52 and moving the arm 2? radially outward.

This is the unloading and loading station, .the coated pail being easilyremoved while the cradle arms 30 are separated from the finger 3t and anuncoated pail being immediately placed in position between the cradlearms and finger 3%.

Further rotation of the annulus permits the sleeve 50 to ride off of thehigh point of the cam 41, the spring 52 moving the radial arm 21radially inward to hold the pail against displacement.

The pail is then carried downward and enters the flux box with itsuppermost side element approximately horizontal as indicated at B, toallow free entry of the flux to the interior of the pail.

As the pail is about to leave enter the molten metal, the roller I. uponthe lever arm ll engages the cam stop 81 swinging the lever arm H to theposition shown in Fig. 7 and rotating the sleeve 44 and arm 21 withinthe annulus 22 swinging the pail to the position shown in Fig. 5, so asto permit the molten metal to flush any remaining flux from the pail.

Further rotation of the annulus causes the roller 68 to pass out ofengagement with the stop cam I! and allows the spring 43 to return thelever arm ll, sleeve 34 and radial arm 21, with the pail carriedthereby, to normal position, the return being gradual due to theresistance or retarding action of the molten metal.

As each pail reaches the point indicated at C, where it is about toemerge from the molten metal, the roller 68 upon the lever arm 4i ridesup the inclined surface 10 of thescam 89 and into the recess II of saidcam, causing the lever arm H to swing to the position shown in Fig. 9 asthe annulus continues to rotate and the roller 88 rides up onto the-flatedge 72 of the cam, rotating the sleeve 34 and radial arm 21 in theannulus and swinging the pail to the position shown in Fig. 9, the pailreaching this position just as the last portion thereof leaves themolten metal and remaining in this position until it reaches theposition D in Fig. 1, so as to quickly drain the surplus metaltherefrom.

As the roller 68 rides down the inclined edge It of the cam, the pail isreturned to the normal position, a rapid return with an abrupt stopcausing the surplus metal to drain from the chime of the pail.

It should be understood that the operation of the scraper mechanismabove described is so coordinated with the movement of the rotatingannulus that one scraper blade 85 passes across the surface of themolten metal just prior to the time each pail emerges therefrom so thatthe surface of the metal is clean and no scale, oxide or other foreignmatter is deposited upon the pail as it emerges from the metal.

The coated pail remains in the position shown at E until it reaches theunloading and loading station at A at which time the coating issufficiently dried to permit the pail to be removed and a new pailplaced in position upon the arm 2? in the manner above described.

In Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive, is shown a slightly modified form of themachine in which the rotating annulus 22a is mounted upon a plurality ofrollers B00, carried by a bracket 416i and received within the internalannular groove M32 in the annulus.

The bracket itt may be rigidly mounted upon a stationary shaft 26acarried by the uprights Z'ia rarounted upon the" side walls of the tankor pot The flux box Eta may be of the form best shown in Fig. 11 andprovided with an inward extension I03 which is located within therotating annulus 22a as best shown in Fig. 10.

With this construction it will be seen that no slot is necessary in theside of the flux box to permit the rotating annulus to passtherethrough, and therefore, no gate or other closure.

means is necessary, the rotating annulus passing down through the fluxand into the molten metal on one side of the extension or'end wall I03of the flux box, then passing through the the flux box and p of said endwall.

Ashaft I! is iournaled through a suitable bearing I05 in the bracketllll and may be driven from any suitable source of power.

A bevel gear I06 is fixed upon said shaft and meshes with a beveled gear101 fixed on a shaft I08 journaled in a vertical bearing I09 and havinga gear H0 at its other end meshing with the ring gear ill formed orfixed upon the side 'of the rotating annulus 220;.

With this drive mechanism operating, the rotating annulus 22a may becontinuously rotated at any desired speed in the direction of the arrowsshown in Figs. 10 and 14. I

Radially disposed arms 21a are slidably mounted for radial movementwithin the rotating annulus 220, each arm 21a having an angular outerend 28 upon which is mounted a pair of curved cradle arms 3| a, a stopfinger 33c being fixed to the end of said angular portion of the arm.

Sleeves 34a are rotatably mounted in bores 35a radially located in theannulus 22a, each of these sleeves having an annular flange 3% at itsouter end bearing against the periphery of the annulus.

each sleeve, said arm having a disk 66b formed thereon and connected tothe inner end of the sleeve 34a as by the screws M2.

A coil spring 43a is located around the reduced central portion of thesleeve 38a within the bore 350., one of the springs being connected tothe annulus 22a as shown at MD and the other end of. the spring beingconnected to the sleeve 34a as shown at 30 whereby the arm did isnormally held in the position shown at G in broken lines in Fig. 15, thestop pin Ma upon the arm a contacting the adjacent side of the annulus22a.

An inclined finger 39a is welded or otherwise fixed upon the outer endof each sleeve 34a and cooperates with the cradle arms 3hr for retaininga pail 32a or other article thereby coated in proper position upon eacharm 27a.

Each of the arms Tia-is slidably located within the corresponding sleeve3621, a spring 52a surrounding the arm 21a and being interposed betweenthe shoulder H3 in the sleeve, and the collar 53a upon the armZlafnormally holding said collar against the disk portion lib of the armlia. Diametrically opposed slots Ill may be formed in the sleeve 34a toslidably receive opposite ends of the pin 5 carried by the arm 21a,whereby the arm may be slidably moved longitudinally relative to thesleeve, but is held against rotation relative tothe sleeve.

A cam plate 41a may be fixed upon the bracket 50! in position to engagethe rounded inner ends 690 of the radial arms 21a for the purpose ofslidably moving the radial arms 21a radially outward as they reach theloading and unloading station A as indicated in Fig. 10.

A cam stop 61:; is mounted upon any suitable stationary portion of themachine, such as the side wall 58a of the flux box, in the path of thearms Ila at the point where the pails leave the flux and enter themolten metal, for the purpose of swinging the arms a, and with them thesleeves 34a and radial arms 21a to the full line position shown in Figs.and 16 so that the pails assume this position as they enter the moltenmetal in order to flush any remaining flux therefrom.

A cam plate "d is mounted ,upon a stationary An arm a is connected tothe inner end of 5 portion of the machine in the path of the arms a asthe pails emerge from the molten metal in order to swing each arm Ila tothe broken line position indicated at H in Fig. 15, swinging thecorresponding arm 21a. and the pail 32a carried thereby to the positionshown at H in Fig. 10 draining the surplus coating metal from the pail,after which the pail is quickly snapped back to the normal position todrain the chime.

A scraper mechanism for scraping or skimming oxides, scale, and otherforeign matter from the surface of the molten metal just before eachpail emerges therefrom is preferably provided in this form of themachine also, and the scraper mechanism shown is the same as that shownand described in detail in connection with the first form of theinvention and for this reason no further description of the scrapermechanism is thought necessary and the same reference numerals areapplied thereto as used in the above description in Figs. 1 to 9,inclusive.

This scraper mechanism may be operated in unison with the rotatingannulus 22a by operatively connecting the chain H, thereof, to the driveshaft I04.

From the description it is believed that the I operation of the form ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. 10 to 16, inclusive, will be obviousand it should be understood in the operation of this form of the machinethe pails or other articles to be coated pass through the machine in thesame manner as above described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting fiux upon thesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level ofthe molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms carried bythe annulus, means upon the radial arms for supporting articles andconducting them through the flux and molten metal when the annulus isrotated, and means for turning the radial arms upon their axes as theannulus rotates.

2. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon thesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level ofthe molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms carried bythe annulus 'for supporting articles and conducting them through theflux and molten metal, and cam means in the path of the radial arms andcooperating therewith for turning the radial arms upon their axes asthey enter the molten metal.

3. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon thesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level ofthe molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms carried bythe annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the fluxand molten metal, and cam means in the path of the radial arms as theyemerge from the molten metal for turning the radial arms upon their axesas they leave the molten metal.

4. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a. tank of moltenmetal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon thesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level ofthe molten metal, means for rotating the annulus radial arms carried bythe annulus for supporting articles and conducting them through the fluxand molten metal, and two spaced cam means located on opposite sides ofthe annulus for turning the radial arms upon their axes as they enterand leave the molten metal.

5. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon thesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below the level ofthe molten metal, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulusfor supporting articles and conducting them through the flux and moltenmetal,

- there being a slot in the inner end of the flux box through which theannulus rotates, and plates frictionally engaging opposite sides of theannulus adjacent to said slot for preventing the flux from passingthrough the slot.

- 6. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a fiux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux uponthesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping below thelevel of themolten metal, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus forsupporting articles and conducting them through the flux and moltenmetal, there being a slot in the inner end of the flux box through whichtheannulus rotates, and L-shape plates frictionally engaging oppositesides of the annulus and the inner end of the flux box adjacent to saidslot for preventing the flux from passing through the slot.

7. Apparatus for coating metal articles including a tank of moltenmetal, a flux box at one end of the tank for supporting flux upon thesurface of the metal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontalaxis above the tank with its lower portion dipping into the molten metalbelow the inner end of the flux box, means for rotating the annulus,means upon the annulus for supporting articles and conducting themthrough the flux and molten metal, and means associated with the tankfor turning said article supporting means to tilt the articles as theannulus rotates.

' 8. Apparatus forcoating metal articles, including a tank of coatingmaterial, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above thetank with its lower portion dipping below the .level of the coatingmaterial, means for rotating the annulus, radial arms slidably mountedupon the annulus and having article engaging means thereon, cooperatingarticle engaging means carried by the annulus, and means for slidablymoving each radial arm at one point to permit unloading and loading ofarticles.

9. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of coatingmaterial, a mating annulug supported upon a horizontal axis above thetank, means for rotating the annulus, radially disposed sleeves carriedby the annulus and rotatable relative to the annulus, radial armslocated through the sleeves and slidable relative to the sleeves,cooperating, article engaging means upon the sleeves and radial arms forsupporting articles and conducting them through the coating material,means for slidably moving each radial arm in its sleeve at one point topermit unloadingand loading of articles, and means for rotating. thesleeves upon their axes to tilt the articles as they pass through thecoating material.

10. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a rotating annulus supported upon a'horizontal axis above thetank, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus forsupporting articles and conducting them through the molten metal, arotating scraper blade supported upon a vertical axis above the tank atthe point where the articles emerge fromthe molten metal for scrapingoxide and. the like from the surface of the molten metal at the pointwhere the articles emerge therefrom, means for rotating the scraperblade, and means for coordinating the rotation of the annulus and of thescraper blade.

11. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a rotataing annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above thetank, means for rotating the annulus, means upon the annulus forsupporting articles and conducting them through the molten metal, arotating scraper blade supported upon a vertical axis above the tank atthe point where the articles emerge from the molten metal for scrapingoxide and the like from the surface of the molten metal at the pointwhere the articles emerge therefrom, means for rotating the scraperblade, means for coordinating the rotation of the annulus and of thescraper blade, and means for raising the scraper blade from themoltenmetal and wiping the surface of the blade during one portion ofeach rotation of the blade.

12. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of coatingmaterial, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above thetank, means for rotating the annulus, radially disposed sleeves carriedby the annulus and therefrom, means for rotating the scraper blade, Y

rotatable relative to the annulus, radial arms located through thesleeves and slidable relative to the sleeves, cooperating, articleengaging means upon the sleeves and radial arms for supporting articlesand conducting them through the coating material, cam means for slidablymoving each radial arm in its sleeve at one point to permit unloadingand loading of articles, and cam means for rotating the sleeves upontheir axes to tilt the articles as they pass through the coatingmaterial.

13. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of moltenmetal, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above thetank, means for rotating the annulus,wmeans upon the annulus forsupporting articles and conducting them through the molten metal, arotating scraper blade supported upon a vertical axis above the tank atthe point where the articles emerge from the molten metal for scrapingoxide and the like from the surface of the molten metal at the pointwhere the articles emerge means for coordinating the rotation of theannulus and of the scraper blade, arcuate guide rails for raising thescraper blade from. the molten metal during one portion of each rotationof the blade, and a substantially radial bar associated with the guiderails for wiping the surface of the scraper blade.

14. Apparatus for coating metal articles, including a tank of coatingmaterial, a rotating annulus supported upon a horizontal axis above thetank, means for rotating the annulus, radially disposed sleeves carriedby the annulus and rotatable relative to the annulus, radial arms 10-cated through the sleeves and slidable relative in its sleeve at onepoint to permit unloading and to the sleeves, cooperating, articleengaging loading of articles, a lever arm upon each sleeve, means uponthe sleeves and radial arms for supand cam means in the path of saidlever arms for porting articles and conducting thein through therotating the sleeves upon their axes to tilt the arcoating material. acam engaging the inner ends 5 ticles as they pass through the coatingmaterial. of the radial arms for slidably moving each arm RALPH E.AUNGST.

